Massive bush fire at Sydney's west causes panic among residents, damages properties

Several properties and a vehicle had been damaged by an out-of-control bushfire at Sydney's west on Friday afternoon, officials said.

Xinhua has learnt that close to 100 firefighters are currently at the scene fighting the blaze which is expected to last a couple of hours more as strong winds are dampening the crew's efforts to take down the fire faster.

The fire started in Cranebrook at 1400 local time (AEDT) before spreading across nearby areas at Llandilo and Londonderry, Ian Krimmer, superintendent of Fire and Rescue department of New South Wales State, the Australian state where Sydney belongs to, told Xinhua.

"We don't know what caused the fire," Krimmer told Xinhua in a telephone interview.

"We expect to take a couple of hours more before it's completely out."

At the moment people living in the area have been advised to stay as far away as possible.

Meanwhile, NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) told the Australian Associated Press that a water bombing aircraft, including the air crane and large air tankers, have been deployed and emergency warning messages are being sent to homes in the area.

"We've received reports at least two properties have been affected by the fire," an RFS spokesman said.

A Llandilo resident and business owner Kim Hamilton has expressed fear that the blaze might reach her home.

"We were just sitting down to have lunch when I looked up and saw the smoke," she told the Australian Associated Press.

"I'm extremely worried. There's a lot of bushland around Llandilo where people haven't developed it yet because it's mainly acreage."

"A lot of that bush land hasn't burnt for about 10 years."

"More than likely it's deliberately lit," she said. Endit